Vacuum storage bag systems

ABSTRACT

A vacuum bag storage system comprises a vacuum storage bag having a pocket with a releasably sealable opening through which items to be stored may be inserted and removed, and at least two substantially stiff panels configured to be at least partly removed from and inserted into the bag through the opening. The panels may be articulated and may be connected together by at least one length of flexible, preferably elastic, material.

The present invention relates to vacuum storage bag systems.

Vacuum storage bags are predominantly used to store clothing, linen and other textile goods. Such bags are useful for travellers as clothing arranged within a vacuum storage bag occupies significantly less space than the same clothing outside of the bag.

However, clothing arranged within a vacuum storage bag has a tendency to crease owing to pressure from the vacuum deforming both the bag and the clothing held within. As such it is often necessary for clothes to be ironed once removed from a vacuum storage bag, something which may be less than ideal, particularly, for example, for business travellers.

Some efforts have been made to mitigate this problem.

For example CN200995856 discloses a vacuum storage bag comprising integrated cardboard panels configured to hinder the bag and clothes from creasing. However, such bags are very difficult to pack neatly and without creasing the clothing being placed therein.

Arrangements with removable panels have been proposed, such as in EP0445390, and whilst an improvement on CN200995856 such boards are difficult to position and bulky to store, particularly when travelling.

The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a vacuum bag storage system comprising:

-   -   a vacuum storage bag having a pocket with a releasably sealable         opening through which items to be stored may be inserted and         removed; and     -   a pair of panels that are removable from the bag through the         opening, the panels being configured to compress textile goods         therebetween when the system is in use;     -   wherein the panels are connected together by at least one length         of flexible material.

In some embodiments the at least one length of flexible material extends between a first side of a first panel and a first side of a second panel.

In some embodiments the panels are attached to each other by at least two lengths of flexible material that are spaced apart from each other.

Preferably the flexible material is elastic.

By connecting panels together with flexible, and preferably elastic, material a user is more readily able to insert the panels with textiles held therebetween into the bag.

In some embodiments each of the pair of panels are articulated, having a plurality of sections that are foldable relative to each other at one or more hinges.

By providing articulated panels the size of the panels may be reduced for storage. It has surprisingly been found that articulating the panels does not reduce the effectiveness of the panels in hindering creasing.

In some embodiments each of the pair of panels comprises at least two, or at least three, or at least four sections.

Preferably the hinges extend from the first sides of the first and second panels towards opposing sides of said panels.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vacuum bag storage system comprising:

-   -   a vacuum storage bag having a pocket with a releasably sealable         opening through which items to be stored may be inserted and         removed; and     -   a pair of panels that are removable from the bag through the         opening, the panels being configured to compress textile goods         therebetween when the system is in use;     -   wherein each of the pair of panels are articulated, having a         plurality of sections that are foldable relative to each other         at one or more hinges.

In some embodiments each of the pair of panels comprises at least two, or at least three, or at least four sections.

Preferably the hinges extend from the first sides of the first and second panels towards opposing sides of said panels.

In some embodiments wherein the panels are connected together by at least one length of flexible material.

In some embodiments the at least one length of flexible material extends between a first side of a first panel and a first side of a second panel.

In some embodiments the panels are attached to each other by at least two lengths of flexible material that are spaced apart from each other.

Preferably the flexible material is elastic.

In some embodiments the area of each panel in its 2D plane is at least 50%, or at least 75%, or at least 90%, or at least 95% of the area of an internal face of the pocket against which the panel is positioned when the bag is in use.

In some embodiments a second side of the first panel that opposes the first side of the first panel is releasably attachable to a second side of the second panel that opposes the first side of the second panel.

In some embodiments a second side of first panel is releasably attachable to a second side of the second panel by means of at least one length of flexible material.

In some embodiments each panel is substantially of the same dimensions.

In some embodiments the panels are substantially rectangular in shape.

In some embodiments the panels are formed of cardboard with a fabric covering.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of storing textile goods comprising the steps of:

-   -   providing a system made in accordance with any preceding         statement of invention;     -   arranging textile goods upon a first panel;     -   positioning a second panel on top of the textile goods;     -   inserting the assembly of panels and textile goods into the         vacuum storage bag; and     -   sealing the bag and evacuating gas from the bag.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is plan view of a vacuum storage bag;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pressing component comprising two panels, the pressing component being for use with the system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pressing component of FIG. 2 with textile goods layered between the panels thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pressing component of FIG. 2 when part-folded for storage; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the component of FIG. 3 housed within the storage bag of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings a vacuum bag storage system of the present invention comprises a vacuum storage bag 1 and a pressing component 2.

Bag 1 may be formed in accordance with any prior art vacuum bag and comprises an airtight substantially cuboid pocket 6 with a releasably sealable opening 3 that is openable and closable by means of a linear seal 4. Bag 1 further comprises a valve 5 configured to permit a user to evacuate gas from the pocket of bag 1.

Pressing component 2 comprises a first panel 7 and a second panel 8.

Panel 7 is articulated, being formed of three sections 7 a, 7 b, 7 c that are foldable relative to each other at hinges 12 a, 12 b. Section 7 a is attached to section 7 b at hinge 12 a and section 7 b is attached to section 7 c and hinge 12 b.

Similarly panel 8 is articulated, being formed of three sections 8 a, 8 b, 8 c that are foldable relative to each other at hinges 13 a, 13 b. Section 8 a is attached to section 8 b at hinge 13 a and section 8 b is attached to section 8 c and hinge 13 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, owing to hinges 12 a, 12 b panels 7 a, 7 b, 7 c may be folded such that they lie flat against each other. Similarly owing to hinges 13 a, 13 b panels 8 a, 8 b, 8 c may be folded such that they lie flat against each other. If so desired panels 7, 8 may be further folded towards each other at straps 9 a, 9 b.

Sections 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, 8 a, 8 b, 8 c of panels 7, 8 are each substantially rectangular and formed of stiff cardboard that is covered with a fabric material.

Panels 7, 8 are attached to each other at one side by first and second spaced-apart elastic straps 9 a, 9 b that extend between the sides of panels 7, 8.

As panels 7, 8 are attached at one side they may be folded relative to each other between a first configuration wherein the panels lie flat in the same plane and a second configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein panels 7, 8 are stacked in spaced-apart parallel planes.

It will be apparent that to connect sides of two panels together one or more flexible straps that connect the panels need not be attached directly to edges of the panels but may be attached to the faces of the panels.

A single flexible strap may connect the sides to two panels; such a strap may extend across a significant width, or even the full width of the sides of the panels.

Hinges 12 a, 12 b, 13 a, 13 b are substantially linear and extend from the sides of panels 7, 8 at which straps 9 a, 9 b are located towards opposing sides of panels 7,8.

Turning to the vacuum bag storage system in use a user wishing to store, for example, some neatly ironed items of clothing, may first lay pressing component 2 on a flat surface as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The user may then position clothing 10 on panel 8 and then fold panel 7 over such that it rests on top of clothing 10. Thus clothing 10 is sandwiched between panel 7 and panel 8 in pressing component 2 and clothing 10 assembly 11

The user may then insert assembly 11 into pocket 6 of vacuum bag 1 via opening 3. The user is assisted in this action by elastic straps 9 a, 9 b urging panels 7, 8 towards each other at a first side of assembly 11

This allows a user to grasp the opposing side of assembly 11 with one hand and apply pressure as illustrated by arrows A in FIG. 3 so as to hold assembly 11 in one piece.

As hinges 12 a, 12 b, 13 a, 13 b extend from the side at which elastic straps 9 a, 9 b are located the leverage that a user may apply to straps 9 a, 9 b is not affected.

Whilst holding assembly 11 a user may then insert it into vacuum bag 1 such that the side of assembly 11 comprising straps 9 a, 9 b enters pocket 6 first and once inserted the side of assembly 11 held by the user is adjacent opening 3 of pocket 6.

The user may then release their grip on assembly 11, seal pocket 6 using linear seal 4 and evacuate pocket 6 via valve 5.

Creating assembly 11 outside of vacuum bag 1 and then positioning assembly 11 within pocket 6 of vacuum bag 1 has significant advantages over the prior art arrangements as a user readily able to neatly stack clothing 10 to be stored and secure it between panels 7, 8 before easily positioning assembly 11 within bag 1.

This is in contrast to prior art arrangements where clothing must be stacked within the pocket of the vacuum bag, which is difficult to complete without creasing the clothing.

The present invention is particularly beneficial in relation to vacuum bags having a small opening (or smaller vacuum bags in general) as in prior art systems the smaller the opening of a vacuum bag the more difficult it is to neatly arrange clothing or other textile goods therein. The present invention allows for the neat stacking of textile goods within a vacuum bag regardless of the size of the opening of the bag.

In some embodiments it may be desirable to be able to attach panels together at the side that opposes elastic straps 9 a, 9 b in order that assembly 11 may be retained in position without a user exerting pressure at points indicated by arrows A in FIG. 3.

In such embodiments one or more flexible straps that may be releasably fastened at the opposing side may be provided. Such straps may fasten by any convenient means such as hook and look fastener or press studs.

When the system of the present invention is in use it is between panels 7 and 8 that textile goods such as clothing is compressed. In use panels 7 and 8 remain substantially planar despite being articulated. This is in distinction to prior art systems comprising articulated sidewalls, such as the arrangement of EP0445390A1, where those sidewalls are not intended to provide compression of textile goods but are intended to articulate during use.

In the present specification the term ‘stiff’ is intended to mean semi-rigid or rigid. Whilst in the present embodiment a stiff cardboard material is used any other suitable stiff material may of course be employed.

It should be noted that in this specification the term ‘rectangular’ is intended to include a square as a special form of rectangle.

In this specification an apparatus/method/product “comprising” certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A vacuum bag storage system comprising: a vacuum storage bag having a pocket with a releasably sealable opening through which items to be stored may be inserted and removed; and a pair of panels that are removable from the bag through the opening, the panels being configured to compress textile goods therebetween when the system is in use; wherein the panels are connected together by at least one length of flexible material.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one length of flexible material extends between a first side of a first panel and a first side of a second panel.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the panels are attached to each other by at least two lengths of flexible material that are spaced apart from each other.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the flexible material is elastic.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of panels is articulated, having a plurality of sections that are foldable relative to each other at one or more hinges.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein each of the pair of panels comprises at least two, or at least three, or at least four sections.
 7. The system of claim 5 wherein the hinges extend from the first sides of the first and second panels towards opposing sides of said panels.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the area of each panel in its 2D plane is at least 50%, or at least 75%, or at least 90% or at least 95% of the area of an internal face of the pocket against which the panel is positioned when the bag is in use.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein a second side of the first panel that opposes the first side of the first panel is releasably attachable to a second side of the second panel that opposes the first side of the second panel.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein a second side of first panel is releasably attachable to a second side of the second panel by means of at least one length of flexible material.
 11. The system of claim 1 wherein each panel is substantially of the same dimensions.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the panels are formed of cardboard with a fabric covering.
 13. A vacuum bag storage system comprising: a vacuum storage bag having a pocket with a releasably sealable opening through which items to be stored may be inserted and removed; and a pair of panels that are removable from the bag through the opening, the panels being configured to compress textile goods therebetween when the system is in use; wherein each of the pair of panels is articulated, having a plurality of sections that are foldable relative to each other at one or more hinges.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein each of the pair of panels comprises at least two, or at least three, or at least four sections.
 15. The system of claim 13 wherein the hinges extend from the first sides of the first and second panels towards opposing sides of said panels.
 16. The system of claim 13 wherein the panels are connected together by at least one length of flexible material.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one length of flexible material extends between a first side of a first panel and a first side of a second panel.
 18. The system of claim 16 wherein the panels are attached to each other by at least two lengths of flexible material that are spaced apart from each other.
 19. The system of claim 16 wherein the flexible material is elastic.
 20. The system of claim 13 wherein the area of each panel in its 2D plane is at least 50%, or at least 75%, or at least 90%, or at least 95% of the area of an internal face of the pocket against which the panel is positioned when the bag is in use.
 21. The system of claim 13 wherein a second side of the first panel that opposes the first side of the first panel is releasably attachable to a second side of the second panel that opposes the first side of the second panel.
 22. The system of claim 21 wherein a second side of first panel is releasably attachable to a second side of the second panel by means of at least one length of flexible material.
 23. The system of claim 13 wherein each panel is substantially of the same dimensions.
 24. The system of claim 13 wherein the panels are formed of cardboard with a fabric covering. 